Abstract

Certain shelf areas have been resurveyed with side-scanning sonar, fathometer, and accurate navigational control for studies of the rate of ice gouging and sediment reworking by ice in the Beaufort Sea, Alaska. Analysis of one such survey, initially done in 1973 and rerun in 1975 along 14 km of track-line in 6 to 14 m of water depth, suggests complete reworking of the bottom to an average depth of 20 cm in 50 yr. Only 3 cm of sediment accumulated during this time interval, making the rate of reworking much higher than rate of deposition.